WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-15% vs national median157 grads tracked

Design and Applied Arts at Lamar University

Ranked 95th of 135 bachelor's programs in Design and Applied Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$34,085
middle 50%: $26,333 – $46,621
Median · 5 years out
$49,718
middle 50%: $39,884 – $60,284
Median · 10 years out
$56,620
middle 50%: $48,658 – $79,314

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Design and Applied Arts (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Lamar University's bachelor's program in Design and Applied Arts earn a median $34,085 one year after graduating, rising to $56,620 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 15% below the national median of $58,393 for this field, ranking 95th of 135 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
8.7 yrs
≈ $10,197 total interest

Same major at other universities

Cleveland State University
$50,831 · 5 yrs out
Western Oregon University
$50,831 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$50,607 · 5 yrs out
University of Northwestern- St Paul
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Francis
$50,245 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$50,065 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$49,665 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$49,533 · 5 yrs out
Concordia University
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Dominican University
$49,104 · 5 yrs out
Bemidji State University
$49,079 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$48,943 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Lamar University

Engineering (Doctorate)
$125,457 · 5 yrs out
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$125,110 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,446 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$115,056 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,775 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,289 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$108,427 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$103,573 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$103,197 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$103,197 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$102,292 · 5 yrs out
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's)
$100,222 · 5 yrs out

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